Page 61 of Two Favors Repaid

Rob finally nodded. “Okay. I just … I need to know you’re safe.”

Emma nodded. After what they’d been through together, she understood his concern. She felt the same way about him. But she couldn’t stop him from doing his job.

“I’ll be okay,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around him. “You can stay at my place tonight.” Rob’s arms tightened around her.

She looked at Natalie, who stood by the doorway, mouth open in surprise. Emma shrugged and smiled shyly.

I guess the secret is out.

“See you all in a bit,” she said, dismissing them before the three friends decided to set up camp in the hospital room. “I’ll call you as soon as Dr. Leroy tells me I can go home.”

#

Rob

“Yeah, I guess Emma and I …”

“It’s okay, Rob,” Natalie laughed. “I understand. I’m happy for you.” Her expression went serious for a moment. “As long as you don’t hurt her.”

“I’d die before I hurt her,” he said. The memory of Emma handcuffed to his kitchen cabinets assaulted him, and he felt like throwing up. His ribs throbbed, and he wished he’d taken the doctor up on her offer for a painkiller.

“It was so close, boss,” he said. “If Jessy hadn’t come up, Emma would have died.”

“You both could have died, Rob,” Natalie said. “Which is why we have to stop him.”

“Uh … with all due respect, Natalie, you’re on leave,” Rob told his boss.

Hunter looked at him gratefully.

Natalie shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere until Ford is caught.”

Hunter ran a hand through his short hair impatiently. “Listen to the man, Nat. You can be here and not take the frontline this time. Think about—”

“Of course I’m thinking about her, Hunter,” Natalie huffed. Her hand went to her rounded stomach, and her expression softened. “I know how much is at stake, I won’t put her at risk.”

Hunter put his hand on his wife’s stomach, lacing his fingers with hers.

Rob averted his eyes from the intimate scene before him. Even though Natalie knew more than anyone about Ford, and her experience might come in useful, Rob wished she’d stayed away.

Rob found the patrol car Susan had left for him outside the hospital and fished around in his pocket for the keys. He waited for Natalie to accommodate the seat belt off to the side of her belly before driving slowly to the station.

“What did Ford look like, Rob?” Natalie asked beside him.

“He’s bulked up some this year,” Rob said.

“Great, just what we needed,” Hunter said from the backseat.

“And something else is different. He’s all kinds of crazy and no longer trying to hide it. You’d think he’d be remorseful about what he’s done, but he just looks … pleased.” Rob shook his head. “I think he has a partner close by.”

Upon reaching the station, he caught Hunter’s gaze in the rearview mirror. The chance that Ford dared go into town was slim, but if he had had, Natalie would be his target.

“Wait a second, Natalie, please,” Rob asked. He and Hunter both got out of the car and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. Hunter walked around to Natalie’s door and opened it, helping her out of the car. Rob stood protectively on her other side and all three of them walked inside the station.

Both he and Hunter sighed in relief as the door closed behind them.

“Natalie,” Susan said, coming over to hug her boss. She bumped into the woman’s belly and laughed. “Wow.”

“Yeah, it won’t be long now,” Natalie said.